Pocahontas Area Community School District Construction Information
Last update made on 2/17/10
Revenue Purpose Statement Question on School Board Election BallotSummary:Due to a change in State of Iowa legislation the school district is having a September 8, 2009 election on whether voters wish to approve a new revenue purpose statement for the penny sales tax for school infrastructure. The new state law changes the current school infrastructure penny sales tax from a local county tax to a statewide tax and therefore the district needs voter approval to extend the current Pocahontas County revenue purpose statement so the district can continue to use the new statewide sales tax for schools. The revenue purpose statement is the document which provides information concerning what purposes the school district can spend the sales tax proceeds on.
If the Pocahontas Area voters approve this revenue purpose statement ballot measure, there will be no increase in the sales tax charged to taxpayers, the school district will receive the same amount of annual funding from this penny sales tax, and the purposes for how the school district can spend the funding remains basicly the same. In general, what does the Revenue Purpose Statement allow the sales tax proceeds to be used for?Uses of the tax include: building and furnishing new buildings; repairing and remodeling buildings; purchasing or improving school sites and grounds; purchasing transportation, technology or recreation equipment; and payment of principal and interest on bonds.
HS/MS Facility updates since bid opening:
August 30, 2009: The 4" and 6" water lines will be installed Monday, August 31, 2009.
August 26, 2009: The community can expect to see the following construction work soon at the high school.
Completion of storm water sewer on South and Southwest side of .(completed 8/27/09)
Begin storm water sewer for parking lot. (Completed 8/28/09)
Installation of new sanitary sewer. (Completed 8/28/09)
Footings for new building will begin Sept. 8th.
Deomolition of old FCS and Art Rooms will begin the week of 9/14/009.
Parking will be limited during construction. Parents and students will receive the following parking plan during registration. (August 9, 2009)
Electrical Contractors are working to complete relocation of eletrical panels from the south garage to a room next to the boy's locker-room. Ground work is also beginning. Between 2-3 feet of topsoil is being removed where the building will go and then replaced with clay to provide the needed base for the new building. (August 6, 2009)
Kolacia Construction from Fort Dodge has been awarded the contract as General Contractor. (July 6, 2009)
HS/MS Facility updates through bid opening:
The architectural firm TSP was hired for the MS/HS project.
The special election resulted in a 73% passage on Dec. 16, 2008.
The board established a Facility Committee to collaborate with the Architect to keep the project moving in a timely fashion. The committee is comprised with the following: Supt., HS Principal, EL Principal, HS Teacher, MS Teacher, EL Teacher, Food Service Director, Transportation Director, Building and Grounds Director, Librarian, Community, Community, and Curriculum Specialist.
2/9/09 Board engages discussion on how curriculum will be delivered in the future. The impact of the Iowa Core Curriculum is the center of this discussion, with its emphasis on collaboration, authentic projects, and real world problems. Decision is made to go with rooms and spaces that facilitate this type of teaching and learning. Staff will have office spaces to permit rooms to be used more efficiently while controlling costs.
TSP presents the following floor plan to Facility Committee on 2/12/09
On 3/9/09 TSP recommends a displacement ventilation system for the new school. This system provides fresher air and higher efficiency than a traditional heating/cooling system. The following video was shown to the board and shows how fresh air is brought into the building near floor and rises on contact with a person and is removed from the top of the room. Click here for video.
Bonds are scheduled to be sold on March 30, 2009.
On April 4, 2009 the facility committee continued work on the buidling planning details. The decision was made to use tile floors in the commons, halls, and classrooms.
On April 13, 2009 the school baord approved the Design Development phase of the buidling project. TSP made a presentation to the board, click here to view the
UPDATE: On July 2, 2009 the school board opened bids for the HS/MS construction project. Eight general contractors submitted bids, six were from Iowa and two were from adjoining states. The apparent low base bid was nearly 17% below architect's estimate. This means that the six alternates will be accepted that were previously removed from the base bid due to concerns with the project being over budget. The board hopes to award the contract at the July 6, 2009 board meeting.
Pocahontas Area Community School District Construction Information
Last update made on 2/17/10Revenue Purpose Statement Question on School Board Election Ballot Summary: Due to a change in State of Iowa legislation the school district is having a September 8, 2009 election on whether voters wish to approve a new revenue purpose statement for the penny sales tax for school infrastructure. The new state law changes the current school infrastructure penny sales tax from a local county tax to a statewide tax and therefore the district needs voter approval to extend the current Pocahontas County revenue purpose statement so the district can continue to use the new statewide sales tax for schools. The revenue purpose statement is the document which provides information concerning what purposes the school district can spend the sales tax proceeds on.
If the Pocahontas Area voters approve this revenue purpose statement ballot measure, there will be no increase in the sales tax charged to taxpayers, the school district will receive the same amount of annual funding from this penny sales tax, and the purposes for how the school district can spend the funding remains basicly the same.
In general, what does the Revenue Purpose Statement allow the sales tax proceeds to be used for? Uses of the tax include: building and furnishing new buildings; repairing and remodeling buildings; purchasing or improving school sites and grounds; purchasing transportation, technology or recreation equipment; and payment of principal and interest on bonds.
HS/MS Facility updates since bid opening:
HS/MS Facility updates through bid opening:
Facility Committee Minutes:
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